Serious allegations of irregularities, contract violations and possible financial mismanagement have surfaced in various development works including AC installation and generator supply, at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMC) Hospital in Bogura.
Against the backdrop of the allegations, a high-level delegation of the Public Works Department (PWD) recently conducted an on-site inspection of the hospital premises.
According to documents and information obtained during the investigation, 28 air conditioners were installed in three galleries of the medical college at a cost of Tk.73.14 lakh. However, citing an additional electricity load requirement, a proposal has reportedly been submitted for construction of a new 3,000-kilowatt substation at an estimated cost of Tk.6.75 crore.
Officials familiar with the matter said the campus already has a 500-kilowatt substation in operation. According to electricity-related information, an additional 500 kilowatts could be sufficient to meet the power requirement for the newly installed AC units.
The proposed substation has therefore raised questions over both its capacity and estimated cost. Critics have questioned the rationale behind proposing a 3,000-kilowatt facility when the existing capacity could reportedly be expanded by another 500 kilowatts.
Questions have also been raised over the supply of a generator for the college's multipurpose hall.
According to the e-GP tender specifications, a 250-kVA generator manufactured in the United States, Japan or the European Union was supposed to be supplied. However, a 130-kVA generator imported from China was reportedly installed instead.
Allegations have been raised that the lower-capacity generator and its country of origin were inconsistent with the tender conditions. Due to the alleged contract violation, the multipurpose hall could reportedly not be formally handed over despite completion of the construction work.
There are also allegations that the generator and auditorium were handed over without informing the college authorities.
Concerned over the alleged irregularities SZMC Principal Professor Dr Md Wadud Haque Torofdar sent a demi-official letter to the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department on July 15.
In the letter, he reportedly sought an impartial investigation by a technical committee and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the approval process of the proposed substation estimate and the alleged violation of contractual conditions in the procurement of the generator. He also called for legal action against those found responsible.
The Bogura district chapter of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON) has also demanded a proper investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Following the allegations, a PWD delegation visited the relevant project sites at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
During the inspection, members of the delegation examined the substation, generator room and locations where the AC units had been installed. They also collected relevant documents and information and technical data.
The delegation said that if any irregularity, corruption or discrepancy is established in the development projects, appropriate legal action would be taken against those responsible.
They also stressed the need to ensure proper use of public funds and maintain the quality and technical standards of government-funded projects.
